chapter 529

7/8/2019

Savoring the Moment

but with sensible risk

I stood on Thacher Park's Indian Ladder Trail May 4, 2017 enjoying the walk not knowing that the Regional Safety Manager one day prior had deemed this trail unsafe. He advised his superiors a safety scaling team was scheduled to arrive in 2 weeks to clear hazzardous potential falling rock dangers. In two months time rocks would fall near this spot paralyzing a lady from the chest down. She would then be awarded a $19 million dollar settlement when the malfeasance was revealed. 

This recent news article noted the State's negligence in maintaining safety. The teacher was hit by boulders just after taking pictures at this Minelot Falls location. It's the same site where a missing 71 year old hiker's body was found after a months long search.

I've taken many family members and friends up to this free and interesting trail over the years. This was the first time John Lee (86 then) had ever gone there although he lived his whole life nearby. Now at 92 years later he's in a nursing home but fondly recalls this time we hiked the trail. ( printing now to deliver to him) It's one of those rewarding acceptable risk situations that make life worth living.

Last week I took a beautiful and safe motorcycle ride up to the famous Dorset, VT quarry that is open to the public for diving and swimming. I had taken my swim suit in case I thought I could get a better shot from water level. Wasn't necessary and I had no desire to jump myself. Surprisingly there have not been too many injuries here. It's interesting that the guy who bought this property spends additional money for maintenance to allow for public access because he used to be a competitive swimmer.

As the oldest marble quarry in the U.S. it's rock slabs adorn the New York Public Library and other historic sites. Dad had build a 15 foot tower for us to jump off into our swimming pond "back in the day". That was sufficiently scary.

Colleen and I completed a 7 mile 3-1/2 hour Battenkill River kayak trip on this 4th of July. It's a beautiful river but the trip was not without consequences. There were numerous bends with rapids forcing you into tree branches and roots. The huge crowd of tourists on tubes made it more problematic navigating. After rescuing Colleen I got dumped at one spot losing a camera. You could die here if you get trapped underwater, (or anywhere) if you are not careful. At this further downstream spot we deemed it best to portage around a particularly dangerous spot. The portage route was like a jungle but we survived and therefore THRIVED from having had the experience.

No risk, no reward. We took this 4 hour 3-1/2 mile hike to Sleeping Beauty Mountain from Darcy Clearing  that includes a view of Mt Marcy far distant. We never feel like we are in danger, as we take reasonable precautions. I did, however, get a bothersome sliver in my foot from the deck behind my house.

For a break the next day we acted like tourists and visited Woodstock for a relaxed enjoyable time of shopping and drum circle dancing. Met this character, Grandpa Woodstock who is a member of the Rainbow Gathering crowd has many of his own videos on line.

This weekend we stopped at the Apple Barn site of the limo crash that killed 20 people in Schoharie to donate to the permanent memorial. This picture was on the way to Christie's wedding a month after the crash. 

The group of young people from Amsterdam were simply partying for a birthday celebration and had seemingly responsibly hired a limo so they could drink without driving. Did not realize they had contracted with an unscrupulous person.

Thrill seeking. Risk vs reward. How much is enough. What is the acceptable risk, what is the voluntary risk, the perceived risk, the hidden risk? How much do you need. 

You'd think going to the beach is "safe". But this 77 year old lady died simply as a result of getting a scrape and infection walking down the beach at Anna Maria Island. We are visiting to this same spot near Tampa in a couple weeks...whatever, as Mom always said.

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